Summary: The amount of talent Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban has complied in his previous five recruiting classes is further proof why he is the best coach in college football. Convincing top Alabama high school running back T.J. Yelton to sign with Alabama over Auburn set the tone for the rest of the 2012 recruiting class. Nick Saban takes no prisoners and will recruit nation wide.
SS – Landon Collins (6’1, 200lbs): Landon Collin’s mother wasn’t the only party upset about his decision to attend the University of Alabama. Most of the LSU staff considered Collins their 1st priority in the 2012 recruiting class. Collins has the potential to be an All-SEC player.
RB – T.J. Yelton (6’2, 210lbs): Yelton is not only considered the best running in the State of Alabama, but possibility the nation. Yelton has the talent to someday be mentioned in the same sentence with Richardson and Ingram.
OLB – Ryan Anderson (6’3, 250lbs): Ryan Anderson has drawn comparisons out of high school to former Alabama strong side outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. Not bad company. Anderson picked the Crimson Tide over Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina.
NT – Darren Lake (6’3, 335lbs): The two Alabama championship teams have been great at stopping the opposing team run game. Lake has the physical abilities to someday be the two-gap controlling nose guard Alabama’s 3-4 demands.
OT – Brandon Hill (6’6, 352 lbs): The Crimson Tide offense is predicated on running the football. If Brandon Hill stays dedicated in the weight room, Hill should be in the mix at right tackle in future seasons. Hill picked Alabama over Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
SDE – Alphonse Taylor (6’6, 350 lbs): In the Crimson Tide’s 3-4 defense the strong side defensive end and nose guard must demand double teams to free up the linebackers to make plays. Taylor projects at the strong side 3-4 defensive end position.
QB – Alec Morris (6’4, 235lbs): The Crimson Tide coaches love smart, efficient and game manager type quarterbacks. Morris fits the “all of the above category”. Morris will not wow anyone with his arm strength, but neither did Matt Mauck or Greg McElroy. And we all know how that worked out for Nick Saban.
Overall: Alabama went into Louisiana and stole two of the top five prospects from LSU, a feat the national title runner-up very rarely allows. Next, Alabama is firmly positioned in Atlanta and southern Georgia to land prospect from this talent rich area traditionally dominated by Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Last, Alabama has been able to recruit the Virginia and Maryland areas well over the past three seasons. Alabama recruiting future looks bright.